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Sorry this is late, and I had to share this year's Happy Halloween wishes. Rani was a pink unicorn this year. Rani announced this year she wanted to be a unicorn and I was horrified because I never recall seeing a unicorn costume before and did not know how I was going to pull off the horn on the head thing. Imagine my relief to find a unicorn costume at K Mart. I was Thrilled!!! I have never displayed any gift of creating Halloween costumes as my friends will attest. One year I went at agent Scully after being told by about 100 people that my photo looked like her. I had never even seen the X Files so I had no clue.
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Hello everyone. It is that time of year again when all the schools are holding open houses, school fairs and tours to attract new students for next year. We live in the city with a 4 year old daughter so we are in the thick of searching for the best options. We have truly been comforted and surprised by the number of great options we have.
Last week we toured the St Louis City Magnet Schools and found 4 we would be delighted to have our daughter attend. Of all the schools we looked at we found Kennard Classical Junior Academy, a Blue Ribbon School, to be our first choice by a very narrow margin. We were impressed with Dewey which focuses on International Studies. The kids from Pre K to 2nd grade have 30 minutes of a foreign language every day revolving between Russian, Spanish, French, German and Mandarin and are giving the opportunity to chose in 3rd grade which language they want to focus one and become fluent in. How amazing! We were also impressed with Mallencrodt which has two teachers that have been awarded teacher of the year awards. It was reassuring to have such great choices. If the St Louis Magnet schools are an option for you, you must act now! The deadline for applying for many of the magnet schools is this week, November 13th.
We were also pleasantly surprised to read that 1 in 3 of the children who applies to attend a magnet school is accepted. My perception has always sounded so hard and you have to be in a lottery and the chance of getting in is so low....when in fact, you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting in if you apply. I wonder if the fear of perception of it being so hard keeps many families from even trying? There are three families in our small neighborhood that send their kids to a magnet school and one child from our daycare also began attending a magnet school this year. All four of these families are thrilled with the education their children are receiving. We applied last year for the 3 year old program and did not get in. This is the hardest program to get in because it has the fewest number of slots. We are hoping to have success with getting in the 4 year old program and take comfort in know that we would still have another year to get her in to start kindergarten with her class if we are not accepted in the 4 year old program. Our application is already in and the lottery is in January which results being mailed out in February so we will keep our fingers crossed.
We also have some excellent charter schools in our area that we are very excited about. The two families that were at our daycare last year and now have children in our first choice charter school are both delighted with that school. It is another very appealing offer and one that several families from the county drive in to be able to send their children to. Lastly, there are many nice parochial schools that are available. The highest percentage of kids in our neighborhood attend St Margaret of Scotland School in Shaw. It is again a nice school with computers and smart boards in every room and a great student to child ratio. The families that we know who send their children here all speak very highly of the education and the social responsibility their kids are learning there.
We love our house and we love our neighborhood. We cannot imagine finding a better place to raise our daughter. The schools have been our biggest concern and we have done a lot of reasearch, touring and contemplating. We have many many options ranging from tuition free like the magnet and charter schools to moderately priced parochial and independent schools like St Margaret’s and The Soulard School that cost the same or less than what we are already paying for daycare, to off the charts expensive private schools.
Stay tuned to find out where Miss Rani will be attending next year. We are excited to have options and ready for this next adventure.
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Check out this month in real estate for October 2009. This Month in Real Estate provides expert opinion and analysis on real estate trends across the nation.
Just Click on the link below:
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10316 Forest Brook Ln. #B St. Louis, MO 63146
Congratulations to the O'Briens for selling their condo! It was great to work with you and we hope you enjoy Florida. We welcome the new owner to the neighborhood!!
Dear Karen and Sarah, Thanks so much for selling our condo. We're glad it's all over with. We'll have a good tax write off as the result of the price reduction! Sorry you couldn't have made a bigger commission you certainly earned it! We'll be glad to recommend you to anyone who might be selling their residence in St. Louis.
--The O'Briens
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October 2-4, 2009
Come to the Award-Winning Taste of St. Louis at the Soldier's Memorial Downtown* Free Admission! Be a part of the Artist Village for the largest downtown art event in St. Louis!
* Over 300,000 expected attendance
* Over $2,000 in cash and prizes for artists
* Great food from over 30 local restaurants
* Performing Arts Stage featuring cultural performances and local talent
* Main Stage featuring national acts
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7028 Bancroft Ave. St. Louis, MO 63109
Congratulations to the Barnett's for purchasing their new home! We wish you many years of happiness and new memories! We are very excited for you! Welcome to the neighborhood!
Thank you so much for turning us from an anxious homeless couple into homeowners. I know we were challenging because we were determined to stick to a certain price which limited properties that you could show us-and we were really not sure what we wanted. You were so on target with your suggestions and found us a great property. Being a former real estate agent Paras is very particular, but you met and exceeded his expectations with your direction, insightful comments and your thoroughal knowledge. You have our heartfelt appreciation and admiration for your skill.
----- The Barnett's
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Check out This Month in Real Estate for August 2009. This Month in Real Estate provides expert opinion and analysis on real estate trends across the nation!
Just click on the link below:
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Check out This Month in Real Estate for July 2009. This Month in Real Estate provides expert opinion and analysis on real estate trends across the nation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_-yXOLd1Xk&feature=PlayList&p=70FB5BC074D3E360&index=0&playnext=1
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Do you love HGTV? Who do you know that wants to purchase a new house?
HGTV’s House Hunters is coming to St. Louis! HGTV is looking for fun, enthusiastic homebuyers within 90 minutes of Saint Louis, who plan to purchase a new home within the next 1 – 2 months. I would love to help you, your friends, family and coworkers make their dreams of home ownership come true and give them a chance to be the star of House Hunters St. Louis. Call or email me today with who you know who is in the market to purchase a new house, please have them call me so we can give them the start treatment!
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Anne Lamott
found on www.next-right-thing.org
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IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS...OR IS IT? As we look back at last week, think about this for starters - the housing industry received some welcome good news, as Existing Home Sales came in better than anticipated, and marking the third straight month that Existing Home Sales have increased. And perhaps even better, the supply of unsold homes on the market dropped from the prior reading of 9.8 months down to 9.4 months - which is the best level seen in over a year. With home loan rates still at low levels and homes priced to sell - this is a great time for potential homebuyers to stop thinking, and go ahead and take some action.
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Check out this Month in Real Estate for June 2009! Please click on the link below to get the latest on real estate trends and analysis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lnrH0WhCNo
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I just took Rani to get new pictures taken and can't believe how nice they turned out! We went to see Pam Bredenkamp with Signature Studio and she did a great job!
You can check out Pam's other work at www.SignatureStudio.com. Here is my favorite!
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10316 Forest Brook Ln. Unit B, Creve Coeur, MO 63146
$84,900
MAKE THIS UPDATED CONDO YOUR NEW HOME! MAIN FLOOR UNIT OFFERS THE CONVENIENCE OF VERY FEW STEPS WITH THE SAFETY OF RAISED PRIVATE BALCONIES TO RELAX & ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING. THIS IS A GREAT 2 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM CONDO CENTRALLY LOCATED NEAR MONSANTO, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, RESTAURANTS & THEATRE THAT WELCOMES YOU FROM THE MOMENT YOU STEP ON TO THE WARM BRAZILIAN CHERRY FLOORS WITH CUSTOM INLAID DETAILING. THE LIVING ROOM IS SPACIOUS. THE DINING ROOM IS OPEN & SPACIOUS ENOUGH FOR ENTERTAINING AND/OR A HOME OFFICE. BOTH BATHROOMS & THE KITCHEN HAVE THE CERAMIC TILE FLOORS YOU DESIRE. THE EAT IN KITCHEN IS LIGHT & AIRY. MASTER SUITE HAS A LARGE PRIVATE BATH & 3 CLOSETS WITH CUSTOM ORGANIZERS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE. 2ND BEDROOM ALSO FEATURES CUSTOM CLOSETS. PRIVATE IN UNIT LAUNDRY FOR YOU TOO! THERE IS A BRAND NEW POOL & CABANNAS FOR YOU TO ENJOY! TOP THAT OFF WITH A 2 CAR GARAGE & ALL APPLIANCES STAY SAVING YOU THOUSANDS! THIS IS THE ONE YOU HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR!
Call Karen at 314-966-2626 for details or visit www.KarenSchindlerTeam.com for additional pictures!
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1909 S. Compton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63104
$309,000
YOU WILL LOVE THIS HOUSE ON A TRIPLE LOT! FROM THE MOMENT YOU WALK IN YOU WILL NOTICE THE QUALITY & ATTENTION TO DETAIL. WARM 3in BRAZILIAN CHERRY FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE OPEN FLOORPLAN. STUNNING STAIRCASE & EXPOSED BRICK. FABULOUS CUSTOM KITCHEN WITH 42in THOMASVILLE CABINETS, PULL OUT SHELVES, TRIPLE PANTRY, GRANITE COUNTERS, STAINLESS 5 BURNER COOKTOP, BOSCH DISHWASHER, KITCHENAID DOUBLE CONVECTION OVENS, LG FRIG W/ BOTTOM FREEZER, INSTANT HOT WATER & BREAKFAST BAR. SPACIOUS DINING ROOM WITH STAINED GLASS FIXTURE IS IDEAL FOR ENTERTAINING. HUGE MASTER SUITE WITH ORIGINAL MARBLE FIREPLACE. LUXURY BATHROOMS W/ CUSTOM TILE WORK, HEATED FLOORS, JACUZZI TUB, WALK IN CLOSET & 2ND FLOOR LAUNDRY. HUGE SECOND BEDROOM. ZONED 90% EFFICIENT HEATING & COOLING, UPGRADED PELLA THERMAL WINDOWS, CENTRAL VAC, 20X20 COMPOSITE DECK, TRIPLE 75 FOOT WIDE LOT, 2 CAR GARAGE PLUS OFF STREET PARKING FOR 3 CARS. MAKE THIS STUNNING HOUSE YOUR NEW HOME TODAY! GET HERE QUICK, THIS WON'T LAST!
Call Karen at 314-966-2626 for details or visit www.KarenSchindlerTeam.com for additional pictures!
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On June 13, there will be an event at Hanneke Hardware in Affton, Missouri offering residents the opportunity to meet with Ronn to discuss any projects they are interested in doing and also work with Hanneke on products appropriate for that project. Ronn is a professor of architecture with MU who specializes in improvement of post world war two houses. Please come by and support this event!
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When shopping for a home, the natural tendency of any buyer is to want to pay the lowest price possible. It's important to keep in mind, however, that the sales price is not the only factor that determines what your monthly payment will be. In fact, the impact of higher interest rates can easily nullify any benefit of waiting for a lower price.
Why Should I Rush to Buy?
While you may have heard discussions in the media about the decline of property values in many markets, the rate of decline appears to be stabilizing.
That being said, it would not be unreasonable for you to want to hold out for an additional decline of 10%, hoping to capture the best possible price. However, as property values have declined in many areas to 2003 levels or lower, waiting longer to pull the trigger could be a mistake. Many markets are reporting that lower property values have been bringing out investors and the result has been multiple offers on many properties. Properties priced correctly are not declining and, in fact, are creating a lot of interest.
Interest Rate Complacency
The problem is that many home buyers have been lulled into a sense of complacency because of extremely low interest rates. Since the Federal Reserve initiated its program of buying mortgage-backed securities, which control the rates people pay for their home loans, rates had been range bound, bouncing between 4.50% to 5.50% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.
But do not be confused by this. These rates are artificially low! Historically, the average rate for a 30-Year Fixed product has been above 7%. And any rate obtained below this number is a great deal, especially on homes with price tags from 2003!
Markets are Unforgiving
The last two weeks of May showed just how unforgiving the markets can be for people who choose to procrastinate. In just five days, interest rates from many lenders increased anywhere from .50% to 1.00% as fixed-income investors demanded more for their money.
For anyone who was waiting for prices to drop even more, a 1.00% increase in your interest rate would bring a higher monthly principal and interest payment on a home, even if the price of that same home had fallen an additional 10% in value.
If you're waiting for home prices to fall even lower, be aware that while holding out for a lower price may help you win the battle, you could lose the war in terms of monthly payments and overall affordability. With the Federal Reserve scheduled to end its buying of mortgage-backed securities this year, rates only stand to go higher for those that wait. In fact, interest rates are already on the rise and could go higher from here.
Clock is Ticking on Free Money
If you, or someone you know, is planning on purchasing a home this year, be aware that you must take possession before 12/01/2009 to be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000. In a survey conducted in March by Move.com, nearly 50% of home buyers are currently unaware that this free money exists in the marketplace. And since over 50% of all buyers are first-timers in today's market, this could impact a lot of people who aren't in the know.
Posted at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Kendra Todd, a nationally recognized author, lecturer and TV Personality, has just joined the Keller Williams Realty Greater Seattle market center as the head of their Luxury Homes Division. Todd, who won the popular NBC series The Apprentice, was the first woman and youngest contestant to ever win the hit reality show! During her time with the Trump Organization, she was involved with the sale of a $100 million dollar Palm Beach estate: the highest residential real estate transaction on record in the United States. Currently, Todd hosts the critically acclaimed HGTV series “My House is Worth What?” and serves as the Yahoo! Finance real estate columnist with more than 400 million registered users. “We are thrilled to welcome the Kendra Todd Group to our firm,” says Andrew Greenwell, team leader. “Her experience as an entrepreneur and insight into the real estate market has proven to be a tremendous asset to our company.”
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"When your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme"
-Jiming Cricket
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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
- Seneca
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Our interest rates are at all time historic lows. Some buyers don't understand how this benefits them, so I wanted to show you a real life example.
Let's say you wanted to purchase a new house, and the amount of money you would borrow for a mortgage is $200,000.
If your interest rate were 8.5%, your principal and interest payment would be $1,538.
If your interest rate were 6.5%, your principal and interest payment would be $1,264.
If your interest rate were 4.5%, your principal and interest payment would be $1,013.
As you can see, interest rate can make a more than $500 a month difference in reduction of yourmonthly payment at today's low rates. Will you be one of the wise people to seize the opportunity of today's market?
Posted at 06:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The US Government recently unveiled a website to inform struggling home owners of the government resources available to them. Home owners can find out answers like:
Can I refinance my house?
How do I request a loan modification?
Where do I go for help?
Do I qualify?
What lenders are participating?
Where can I apply?
How do I know if refinancing will improve my ability to stay in my home?
Get answers to these and other questions at
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Affordability, low rates, desire to buy provide home for the US Housing Market. Housing affordability now stands at its best level since 1971. This greater affordability helped boost home sales in February. Especially strong was the activity attributed to first-time buyers, who represented half of all home purchasers this month. The $8,000 tax credit helped move many of these first time buyers out of rentals and into their own homes.
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Here is the most recent edition of This Month In Real Estate.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=70FB5BC074D3E360
Check it out today!
Posted at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Hello,
Now more than ever, people are wondering how the real estate market is doing. What is my home worth right now? Are homes selling? (Yes, they are here in St. Louis) Is anyone buying? (Yes. Especially in the first time home buyer price ranges) Even if I wanted to get a loan right now, are banks and lenders lending money? (Yes. If you have good credit, 620+ scores and steady income, you can get a historically low interest rate loan.)
Check out answers to all these and more at
http://mykw.kw.com/kwintranet/image/This%20Month%20in%20Real%20Estate%20April%20US.ppt?id=894
As always, I am here to answer any questions you may have about your home or home search.
Posted at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Just Sold!
We were able to help The Cobb's just sell their house in Affton! It was great to work with you both and hopefully we will be in touch again soon. Congratulations to Tim, the new home owner! Welcome to the neighborhood!
"Thanks so much for all the hard work the two of you did to get this sale completed for us. You cannot know the relief you have given to my brother and I. We truly appreciate your efforts."--Becky Cobb
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